Members of the Drug Free Council spoke to the Eastern Pulaski School Board members Monday night about closing the gap in educating students on the dangers of substance abuse.
Drug Free Council member Sandy Lucas said organization officials are willing to assist the school corporation with any needs.
In a recent strategic planning meeting, Lucas said there were several key needs in the area with one very obvious consensus.
“Every single person who responded either identified kids, schools or educating the kids in the schools as our top need, which is part of the reason why we’re here,” said Lucas.
Lucas suggested giving students a youth survey to provide officials with useful data concerning alcohol, tobacco and drug use in the community. She said the quicker they can identify the issue, the more likely they can address it with treatment and education.
“I do juvenile probation here so I can assure you that we absolutely have a substance abuse issue here in our county with our juveniles and with our adults.”
Linda Webb from Pulaski Memorial Hospital said Four County provides all sorts of programs for people to take part in as well as help from recovery coaches.
Pulaski County Health Nurse Andrea Keller noted that the health department has been involved in the training of the administration of the drug overdose reversal drug Narcan, or Naloxone. There is no prescription or cost to residents to get Narcan. Keller obtained a grant to be able to provide Narcan to the public at no cost.
Webb didn’t know if Narcan was available in the school, but a partnership could be had in that regard.
The Drug Free Council meets the second Wednesday of the month at Bethel Bible Church in Winamac at 4 p.m. ET.
School Board member Joe Cunningham asked Interim Superintendent Dr. Gib Crimmins if the corporation can foster a relationship with the organization with needs. Board member Rob Zeider encouraged the council members to work with the building level administrators and to get programs in place as there is a need.
